FALL RIVER — A Taunton native was in Fall River Saturday morning taking the next step toward becoming a Catholic priest.

Christopher Peschel, 25, was ordained a transitional deacon during his diaconate ordination at the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption on Second Street. By doing so, Peschel solidifies his commitment to becoming a Fall River Diocese priest next June, by which time he expects to have graduated from St. John's Seminary in Brighton.

In the interim, Peschel is now qualified as an ordinary minister of the Eucharist, allowing him to baptize, proclaim and preach the Gospel, assist the priest at Mass and minister at other services.

"We need more Chris Peschels," said John Wilk of Plymouth, before he took his seat in a pew.

Wilk, 67, said he and his wife, Paula, who is director of Faith Formation for St. Patrick Parish in Wareham, met Peschel at a World Youth Day event. He said Peschel was among a group of 10 seminarians.

"He's been to our house several times," including on Christmas, said Wilk, who added that he, his wife and Peschel plan to visit Rome and Poland together in the coming year.

Wilk said the Catholic church needs more candidates for the priesthood like Peschel, whom he described as "extremely smart" with a photographic memory to boot.

Peschel, he said, doesn't put on airs and is a down-to-earth, regular guy, who, so happens, wants to dedicate his life to spreading the Gospel and ministering to others.

The Fall River Diocese, Wilk said, now has just three priests who run the vocations office, including a recruiter.

"We're pushing to get more," he said.

Peschel is convinced there's a growing legion of young, American Catholic men like himself interested in becoming priests.

He said whereas two years ago there were just three men within the Diocese studying for the priesthood, there are currently 11.

"That shows that things are heading in the right direction," he said.

Peschel said there was no singular moment of epiphany in his life convincing him to enter the priesthood. But he said 13 years attending Catholic schools — first Taunton Catholic Middle School and then Xaverian Brothers High School in Westwood — didn't hurt.

He went on to earn a bachelor's degree in 2010 at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary near Philadelphia. During his college years, Peschel spent one summer studying Spanish in Mexico and another at the Institute for Priestly Formation at Creighton University in Omaha, according to a Fall River Diocese press release.

Peschel said the "false impression" that young Catholic men aren't interested in the priesthood is due in part to the rate of enrollment, at least until recently, failing to keep pace with the number of priests who are retiring.

Page 2 of 3 - But he pointed to St. John's Seminary in Boston, where Peschel said enrollment has hit full capacity with 130 seminarians. The school, as a result, he said is now looking for ways to add more student housing.

Peschel said the idea of becoming a priest began germinating in his mind back in 2002, when he met Pope John II during a visit to Toronto with a Seekonk parish youth group.

He said Pope John, his successor Pope Benedict XVI and now Pope Francis have all helped create an air of "excitement" among the worldwide Catholic flock.

Peschel said he would urge his fellow Catholics to pray for priests and for those who might consider the path he has chosen.

Wilk said he's not surprised Peschel has come as far as he has. He also said he possess a natural enthusiasm for life and a subtle sense of humor.

He recalled a recent visit by Peschel to his Plymouth home, when they were all relaxing in the family hot tub. At one point, he said, Peschel began talking about what lay ahead in his life.

"He was pontificating about what a great priest he would be," Wilk said with a smile.

The Bishop of Fall River, Most Rev. George W. Coleman, and Rev. Deacon Peter Cote took part in Saturday's ordination ceremony.

FALL RIVER — A Taunton native was in Fall River Saturday morning taking the next step toward becoming a Catholic priest.

Christopher Peschel, 25, was ordained a transitional deacon during his diaconate ordination at St. Mary's Cathedral on Second Street. By doing so, Peschel solidifies his commitment to becoming a Fall River Diocese priest next June, by which time he expects to have graduated from St. John's Seminary in Brighton.

In the interim, Peschel is now qualified as an ordinary minister of the Eucharist allowing him to baptize, proclaim and preach the Gospel, assist the priest at Mass and minister at other services.

"We need more Chris Peschels," said John Wilk of Plymouth, before he took his seat in a pew.

Wilk, 67, said he and his wife Paula, who is director of Faith Formation for St. Patrick Parish in Wareham, met Peschel at a World Youth Day event when Peschel was among a group of 10 seminarians.

"He's been to our house several times," including on Christmas, said Wilk, who added that he, his wife and Peschel plan to visit Rome and Poland together in the coming year.

Wilk said the Catholic church needs more candidates for the priesthood like Peschel, whom he described as "extremely smart" with a photographic memory to boot.

Peschel, he said, doesn't put on airs and is a down-to-earth, regular guy, who so happens wants to dedicate his life to spreading the Gospel and ministering to others.

Page 3 of 3 - The Fall River Diocese, Wilk points put, now has just three priests who run the vocations office, including a recruiter.

"We're pushing to get more," he said.

Peschel is convinced there's a growing legion of young, American Catholic men like himself interested in becoming priests.

He said whereas two years ago there were just three men within the Diocese studying for the priesthood, there are currently 11.

"That shows that things are heading in the right direction," he said.

Peschel said there was no singular moment of epiphany in his life convincing him to enter the priesthood. But he says 13 years attending Catholic schools — first Taunton Catholic Middle School and then Xaverian Brothers High School in Westwood — didn't hurt.

He went on to earn a bachelor's degree in 2010 at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary near Philadelphia. During his college years, Peschel spent one summer studying Spanish in Mexico and another at the Institute for Priestly Formation at Creighton University in Omaha, according to a Fall River Diocese press release.

Peschel says the "false impression" that young Catholic men aren't interested in the priesthood is due in part to the rate of enrollment, at least until recently, failing to keep pace with the number of priests who are retiring.

But he points to St. John's Seminary in Boston, where Peschel says enrollment has hit full capacity with 130 seminarians. The school, as a result, he said is now looking for ways to add more student housing.

Peschel said the idea of becoming a priest began germinating in his mind back in 2002, when he met Pope John II during a visit to Toronto with a Seekonk parish youth group.

He says Pope John, his successor Pope Benedict XVI and now Pope Francis have all helped create an air of "excitement" among the worldwide Catholic flock.

Peschel said he would urge his fellow Catholics to pray for priests and for those who might consider the path he has chosen.

Wilk said he's not surprised Peschel has come as far as he has. He also said he possess a natural enthusiasm for life and a subtle sense of humor.

He recalled a recent visit by Peschel to his Plymouth home when they were all relaxing in the family hot tub. At one point, he said, Peschel began talking about what lay ahead in his life.

"He was pontificating about what a great priest he would be," Wilk said with a smile.

The Bishop of Fall River, Most Rev. George W. Coleman, and Rev. Deacon Peter Cote took part in Saturday's ordination ceremony.